5.23.2011

Recently I wrote a piece on making sure that we win every election, regardless of what the title is. Well there is a key election that is taking place upstate tomorrow, and if we aren't careful, the Rep-ugh-blicans will have another seat filled.

Howerver as Jeanne Heifetz, of Brooklyn for Barack, stated, this is not a foregone conclusion - and we have to be about it if we want to turn the tide. She is trying to build a phone tree, and needs as many people as possible to assist in reaching out to the voters upstate to make sure they do their part to get out and vote. Take the time out this evening to help. I am including her email address here: "Jeanne Heifetz" jeanne@brooklynforbarack.org>; and the letter below:

"Dear Friends: Tomorrow upstate voters will go to the polls to choose a new member of Congress. The Republican and the Tea Party candidate have poured over two million each of their own money into the race. Yet the Democrat, Kathy Hochul, has a good chance of winning -- if we overcome her opponents' financial advantage by doing what we do best: talking directly to voters. Let's make sure the voters understand what's at stake. The central issue in this race has become the Ryan budget, which the Republican candidate explicitly supports. But it's looking like voters, even in this traditionally Republican district, do not want a candidate who believes in crushing Medicare through privatization and vouchers. So let's let them know they have a choice.

As you've probably heard by now, the special election for the 26th Congressional District upstate is an extremely tight, three-way contest. Special elections are notorious for low turnout, which means the race may be decided by a few hundred votes. That means the phone calls we make could actually swing the election. We need to reach Democrats who think that the seat is automatically a Republican seat and therefore weren't planning to turn out. We need to reach independents, who may have been swayed by the false robocalls funded by Karl Rove's organization that have been flooding the district. And we need to reach Republicans who actually LIKE Medicare, and want to be represented by someone who believes in preserving it.

For most of the phonebanks below, please bring your own cellphone and charger. Where landlines are available, that will be noted in the listing. Since some of these are in private homes and offices, please RSVP so the hosts know how many people they are expecting. If possible, consider bringing a drink or snack to share with your fellow phonebankers.

Any time you can give has the potential to have a real impact on this race.

Monday, May 23, 6 – 9 PM Organizing For America Office 25 East 21st Street (Park + Broadway), 4th floor RSVP to Debo at debojg@gmail.com or http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpkxk9Landlines available but please bring cell phones if possible.Tuesday, May 24, 10 AM - 8 PM (all day!) Congresswoman Maloney's Campaign Office24 E 93rd St, Suite 1BRSVP to Alex at agius@carolynmaloney.comAnd if you can’t make it to one of those phonebanks, please consider taking the time to phone from home using www.callny26.com.

Finally, if you'd like to learn more about the direction of American foreign policy in the wake of the President's Middle East speech and the death of Osama Bin Laden, please come to hear and talk with two Truman Fellows about what happens next.Wednesday, May 25th, 6:30- 8:30 - OFA Office - 25 East 21st Street (Park + Broadway), 4th floor

RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpkx3w

These and other elections and issues that will be taking place over the next few months are going to be the determining factor in what we are able to be, do, have over the next few years. We have to either be about it, or continue to remain in the margins complaining. Now is the time. What we do now - gives Obama the victory in 2012, and return Congress to the majority he needs to continue fulfilling his promises.